2024 has been officially recognized as the warmest year on record globally, marking the first calendar year when the average global temperature surpassed 1.5°C above its pre-industrial level, according to a recent report from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). The C3S operates on behalf of the European Commission through the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). This organization has diligently monitored key climate indicators, documenting unprecedented daily, monthly, and annual temperature records throughout 2024. Human-induced climate change continues to be the primary factor driving extreme air and sea surface temperatures, although other influences, such as the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), have also played a role in the unusual temperatures recorded this year.
In 2024, several organizations involved in global climate monitoring—including ECMWF, NASA, NOAA, the UK Met Office, Berkeley Earth, and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)—have collaborated closely to synchronize the release of their data, emphasizing the extraordinary conditions observed during this warmest year on record. Carlo Buontempo, the Director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, states: “All of the internationally produced global temperature datasets show that 2024 was the hottest year since records began in 1850. Humanity is in charge of its own destiny but how we respond to the climate challenge should be based on evidence. The future is in our hands – swift and decisive action can still alter the trajectory of our future climate.”
Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at ECMWF, adds: “Each year in the last decade is one of the ten warmest on record. We are now teetering on the edge of passing the 1.5ºC level defined in the Paris Agreement and the average of the last two years is already above this level. These high global temperatures, coupled with record global atmospheric water vapor levels in 2024, meant unprecedented heatwaves and heavy rainfall events, causing misery for millions of people.”
Read more | La Niña’s impact on 2024’s record-breaking heat: What you need to know
Global surface air temperature highlights
- 2024 has been confirmed as the warmest year in global temperature records dating back to 1850. According to ERA5, the global average temperature reached 15.10°C, which is 0.72°C above the 1991-2020 average and 0.12°C higher than 2023, the previous warmest year on record. This corresponds to 1.60°C above an estimated pre-industrial level based on temperatures from 1850-1900.
- 2024 is the first calendar year to exceed 1.5°C above the pre-industrial level.
- Each year over the past decade (2015–2024) has been among the ten warmest years recorded.
- The monthly global average temperature surpassed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels for 11 months of the year. Notably, all months since July 2023, with the exception of July 2024, have exceeded the 1.5°C threshold.
- A new record high for daily global average temperature was established on 22 July 2024, reaching 17.16°C.
- 2024 has been the warmest year across all continental regions, excluding Antarctica and Australasia, and for significant portions of the ocean, particularly in the North Atlantic, Indian, and western Pacific Oceans.
- The year 2024 experienced three record-warm seasons for the respective times of the year: boreal winter (December 2023-February 2024), boreal spring (March-May), and boreal summer (June-August) with temperature anomalies of 0.78°C, 0.68°C, and 0.69°C above the 1991-2020 average, respectively.
- From January to June 2024, every month was warmer than any corresponding month in prior years. From July to December, every month, except August, was the second warmest on record, following 2023. August 2024 was tied with August 2023 as the warmest on record.
Ocean surface temperature highlights
- In 2024, the annual average sea surface temperature (SST) over the extra-polar ocean reached a historic high of 20.87°C, exceeding the 1991–2020 average by 0.51°C.
- The average extra-polar SST maintained record high levels for the time of year from January to June 2024, continuing the trend of record months from the latter half of 2023. From July to December 2024, the SST was the second warmest on record for that period, following 2023.
- The year 2024 also marked the end of the El Niño event that began in 2023, transitioning towards more neutral or La Niña conditions.
European temperature highlights
- 2024 has been confirmed as the warmest year on record for Europe, with an average temperature of 10.69°C, which is 1.47°C above the average for the 1991-2020 reference period and 0.28°C higher than the previous record set in 2020.
- Both spring and summer were the warmest on record for Europe, with spring (March-May) averaging 1.50°C above the 1991-2020 seasonal average and summer (June–August) averaging 1.54°C higher than the 1991-2020 seasonal average.
Other highlights include
- The total volume of water vapor in the atmosphere reached a record level in 2024, approximately 5 percent above the 1991–2020 average, according to ERA5. This is more than 1 percent higher than the previous peaks recorded in 2016 and 2023.
- Extreme temperatures and elevated humidity levels have contributed to increased instances of heat stress. Much of the Northern Hemisphere experienced more days than average with at least ‘strong heat stress’ during 2024, with some regions experiencing more days with ‘extreme heat stress.’
- In 2024, the area of the globe impacted by at least ‘strong heat stress’ peaked at a new record annual maximum on 10 July, affecting around 44 percent of the globe. This marks a 5 percent increase compared to the average annual maximum.
- Around Antarctica, after achieving record-low values for the time of year during eight months of 2023, the sea ice extent again reached record or near-record low levels for much of 2024. From June to October, the monthly extent ranked second lowest, trailing behind 2023, with November marking the lowest extent. During its annual minimum in February, the monthly extent was recorded as the third lowest in the satellite record.
- In the Arctic, the sea ice extent remained relatively close to its 1991–2020 average until July but dropped significantly below average in the following months. At its annual minimum in September, the monthly extent ranked fifth lowest in the satellite record.
- Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane continued their upward trajectory, reaching record annual levels in 2024, measuring 422 parts per million (ppm) and 1897 parts per billion (ppb), respectively. Carbon dioxide levels in 2024 were 2.9 ppm higher than in 2023, while methane concentrations increased by 3 ppb.
Florence Rabier, director-general of ECMWF, remarks: “The Global Climate Highlights is a vital tool for supporting international climate adaptation efforts. We are grateful for the European Commission’s continued trust towards ECMWF as an intergovernmental scientific organization and for the dedication of our staff and collaborators, whose work makes this service possible. For 50 years, ECMWF’s leadership in meteorology with real-time data assimilation, operational expertise, and the world’s largest meteorological historical database has been essential to ensuring global preparedness for weather-related challenges. All of this is achieved together with our Member States and their National Meteorological Services.” Mauro Facchini, Head of Earth Observation at the Directorate General for Defence Industry and Space, European Commission, states: “The environmental and climate targets set by the European Union are ambitious and need appropriate actions, especially considering the results presented today. With science, innovation, and flagship programmes in Earth Observation such as Copernicus, we can make informed decisions to mitigate and adapt to climate change.”
